Up, Up, and Apart

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you into something else is a person’s greatest accomplishment simply because it is so scarce in our world today. People tend to give in to conformity for the satisfaction of others. If you have individuality, you have the world. Individuality not only sets you apart from society, but the world itself. Individuality is not always praised in today’s, world but it is vital in order to create change. In the poem A Psalm of Life, the text Self-Reliance and artwork The Wanderer we get an idea of how individuality is a good thing and should be embraced and encouraged. To be an individual, one has to create their own life with no limits, express their way of being without fear, and continue to move forward regardless of any obstacles in their way.

In the painting, The Wanderer by C.D Friedrich we see a business-like man standing on a rock looking at the horizon. The view is foggy and distorted making the audience uneasy as to what is ahead. The man appears to be determined to move forward even though the journey is unforeseeable. The man in the painting is any individual in the world who wants to pursue their ambitions. The foggy background is life and all the struggles that one must overcome in order to succeed. The man’s business suit symbolizes his wisdom and success in his life. The fact that he is on the peak of the rock looking forward symbolizes his drive to continue moving up even though he has already reached a successful point worth settling for. He stands apart from most people who conform for a decent point in their life and creates his own limits as he continues to strive for more. The fact that he is imperceptible means that he could be anyone who is willing to be...

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... as Pythagoras, Socrates, Jesus, Luther, Copernicus and Newton. He finishes off by saying, “To be great is to be misunderstood” meaning just because others doubt you does not mean you have to comply with them, instead you should boast your individuality.

To be an individual one must be independent and self-reliant. Confidence and determination is important in being individual. A Psalm of Life, The Wanderer, and Self-Reliance all help clarify the significance of individuality and how even though it is frowned upon it is needed. It is difficult to be different in a society that craves conformity but it is not impossible. If you are capable of thinking your own thoughts and you should embrace and flaunt it. You are different from everyone for a reason. Find it, and run with it. Next time you are thinking about conforming, remember only dead fish go with the flow.